BitSnark

Those ever so talented folks behind post apocalyptic epic Fallout 3 and the equally well received fantasy RPG series The Elder Scrolls, have revealed that they are in fact in the process of creating ‘mature’ games for Nintendo’s shovelware beleaguered console.

According to Sean Brennan, the European boss at Bethesda said it would be ‘churlish’ to ignore the huge 50 million plus userbase that the Wii enjoys, whilst ensuring that they are ‘not going to establish a new range and call it ‘My Girly Game Range’ or whatever these other companies are doing, it’s so me-too and boring’, he added.

Specifically when talking about the market share that Bethesda would be aiming at for an adult orientated title, Brennan had this to say:

“I’ve got consoles at home but I wouldn’t sit and play an 18-rated game with my family on the Wii. Is there space in the Wii market for that? I think there is, but again, it’s all about finding out how big that is. Is it five per cent? If it’s five per cent of the market and you can own that space it’s worth doing because you can achieve volume. If you can’t own it at five per cent, it’s not worth doing, quite frankly”.

So with 5% of 50 million being some 2.5 million Wii users, Bethesda would certainly have their work cut out for them. This is especially true given the fact that Sega who somewhat bravely released two mature themed titles early this year, namely House Of The Dead: Overkill and Madworld, is not even breaking 300,000 sales with those titles.

Combined.

As always, i’ll be very interested to see any mature offerings for the Wii just due to the simple fact that ‘mature’ for the Wii is also a byword for ‘different’. Amusingly, this is a somewhat ironic predicament given the fact that when ‘mature’ approaches are taken on titles for the 360 and PS3 these days, the relative saturation on the market of mature titles means that they are invariably met with the same justified groans and cynical murmurings of disinterested familiarity if they don’t bring something new or incredible to the table.

Well maybe in the Wii’s case, games absolutely cannot be mature in order to sell units and serve the bottom line.

I hope i’m wrong.

Those ever so talented folks behind post apocalyptic epic Fallout 3 and the equally well received fantasy RPG series The Elder Scrolls, have revealed that they are in fact in the process of creating ‘mature’ games for Nintendo’s shovelware beleaguered console.

According to Sean Brennan, the European boss at Bethesda said it would be ‘churlish’ to ignore the huge 50 million plus userbase that the Wii enjoys, whilst ensuring that they are ‘not going to establish a new range and call it ‘My Girly Game Range’ or whatever these other companies are doing, it’s so me-too and boring’, he added.

Specifically when talking about the market share that Bethesda would be aiming at for an adult orientated title, Brennan had this to say:

“I’ve got consoles at home but I wouldn’t sit and play an 18-rated game with my family on the Wii. Is there space in the Wii market for that? I think there is, but again, it’s all about finding out how big that is. Is it five per cent? If it’s five per cent of the market and you can own that space it’s worth doing because you can achieve volume. If you can’t own it at five per cent, it’s not worth doing, quite frankly”.

So with 5% of 50 million being some 2.5 million Wii users, Bethesda would certainly have their work cut out for them. This is especially true given the fact that Sega who somewhat bravely released two mature themed titles early this year, namely House Of The Dead: Overkill and Madworld, is not even breaking 300,000 sales with those titles.

Combined.

As always, i’ll be very interested to see any mature offerings for the Wii just due to the simple fact that ‘mature’ for the Wii is also a byword for ‘different’. Amusingly, this is a somewhat ironic predicament given the fact that when ‘mature’ approaches are taken on titles for the 360 and PS3 these days, the relative saturation on the market of mature titles means that they are invariably met with the same justified groans and cynical murmurings of disinterested familiarity if they don’t bring something new or incredible to the table.

Well maybe in the Wii’s case, games absolutely cannot be mature in order to sell units and serve the bottom line.

I hope i’m wrong.

Back in days when looking up and down was luxury, as was being able to jump, crawl or do anything else expect turn, strafe and shoot. Back also when the level design was constricted to one floor, with nothing above you or below you; it was the game that pioneered the whole FPS shebang way back in 1992; Wolfenstein 3D is due for a re-release on XBLA and possibly PSN.

I say ‘possibly’, as the proof that the title exists was dredged up from an xbox.com page detailing the title with a release date ‘tbd’. However, whilst there has been no confirmation of an official announcement either way, I don’t believe there would be any reason for the title not to grace the PSN – especially as it is listed on the ESRB as being so:

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp

I just hope we don’t get charged the Earth for what is a basic seventeen year old FPS.

Back in days when looking up and down was luxury, as was being able to jump, crawl or do anything else expect turn, strafe and shoot. Back also when the level design was constricted to one floor, with nothing above you or below you; it was the game that pioneered the whole FPS shebang way back in 1992; Wolfenstein 3D is due for a re-release on XBLA and possibly PSN.

I say ‘possibly’, as the proof that the title exists was dredged up from an xbox.com page detailing the title with a release date ‘tbd’. However, whilst there has been no confirmation of an official announcement either way, I don’t believe there would be any reason for the title not to grace the PSN – especially as it is listed on the ESRB as being so:

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp

I just hope we don’t get charged the Earth for what is a basic seventeen year old FPS.

That git Kojima, he seemingly cant get enough of viral teasing and his latest tease is regarding that of his next project, due for a reveal on Monday, with a subsequent showing at E3.

Below is the link to the aforementioned viral site thingy:

http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/next/

With the next MGS in development as alluded to by Kojima himself, odds on favourite are that the next title will indeed be the next Metal Gear Solid.

Wouldn’t it be nice though if it was something completely a new? A brand new IP?

No? Ok then.

That git Kojima, he seemingly cant get enough of viral teasing and his latest tease is regarding that of his next project, due for a reveal on Monday, with a subsequent showing at E3.

Below is the link to the aforementioned viral site thingy:

http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/next/

With the next MGS in development as alluded to by Kojima himself, odds on favourite are that the next title will indeed be the next Metal Gear Solid.

Wouldn’t it be nice though if it was something completely a new? A brand new IP?

No? Ok then.

Sega have announced that no less than seven games will hit Microsoft’s XBOX Live Arcade this summer. Up first is Gunstar Heroes, the beloved Treasure side scrolling shooter that made it’s debut on the Sega Megadrive waaaay back when in 1993. Also of note, Gunstar Heroes will also hit the Playstation Network at the same time. Next up, is the game that made throwing shuriken into people’s faces cool in 1988 (does it ever go out of fashion?), side scrolling ninja title Shinobi.

The undead bashing, creature changing Altered Beast is up next followed by the comic based fighting game, Comix, whereby you fight legions of ‘drawn’ enemies whilst trapped within the panels of an actual comic. Phantasy Star 2 arrives to satisfy any retro RPG cravings you might have and in addition to this, third time’s the charm for as he returns to XBLA with Sonic 3.

Finally, Sonic & Knuckles will be the last Sega title to get a release on XBLA at the end of the summer. The title is also said to feature the cross-compatibility with Sonic 2 & 3 that the Sega Megadrive originals had. Good stuff.

What isn’t good however, is why these titles are being re-released for XBLA, when five out of seven of these titles can already be bought in the Sonic Megadrive Collection (which in itself contains more than forty titles) released for £20 just a couple of months ago.

Sega have announced that no less than seven games will hit Microsoft’s XBOX Live Arcade this summer. Up first is Gunstar Heroes, the beloved Treasure side scrolling shooter that made it’s debut on the Sega Megadrive waaaay back when in 1993. Also of note, Gunstar Heroes will also hit the Playstation Network at the same time. Next up, is the game that made throwing shuriken into people’s faces cool in 1988 (does it ever go out of fashion?), side scrolling ninja title Shinobi.

The undead bashing, creature changing Altered Beast is up next followed by the comic based fighting game, Comix, whereby you fight legions of ‘drawn’ enemies whilst trapped within the panels of an actual comic. Phantasy Star 2 arrives to satisfy any retro RPG cravings you might have and in addition to this, third time’s the charm for as he returns to XBLA with Sonic 3.

Finally, Sonic & Knuckles will be the last Sega title to get a release on XBLA at the end of the summer. The title is also said to feature the cross-compatibility with Sonic 2 & 3 that the Sega Megadrive originals had. Good stuff.

What isn’t good however, is why these titles are being re-released for XBLA, when five out of seven of these titles can already be bought in the Sonic Megadrive Collection (which in itself contains more than forty titles) released for £20 just a couple of months ago.

One of the more popular bits of news doing the rounds today is that Eidos Montreal have confirmed the existence of Thief 4, the latest in the stealth opus series first created by the now defunct Looking Glass Studios over a decade ago.

The confirmation comes directly from the horses mouth; namely the official studio website, with the following quotes:

“We’re in the early development stages for Thief 4, but this is an incredibly ambitious project and a very exciting one,” according to Stephane D’Astous, General Manager.

“It’s too early for us to offer any specific game details; right now we are focused on recruiting the very best talent to join the core team at the studio and help us make what we believe will be one of the most exciting games on the market.”

Platforms and a release window are unknown at this point, but the educated of us can probably assume that PS3, 360 and PC platforms will get a fair shake and that the title won’t see release for probably another eighteen months yet.

More as and when.

One of the more popular bits of news doing the rounds today is that Eidos Montreal have confirmed the existence of Thief 4, the latest in the stealth opus series first created by the now defunct Looking Glass Studios over a decade ago.

The confirmation comes directly from the horses mouth; namely the official studio website, with the following quotes:

“We’re in the early development stages for Thief 4, but this is an incredibly ambitious project and a very exciting one,” according to Stephane D’Astous, General Manager.

“It’s too early for us to offer any specific game details; right now we are focused on recruiting the very best talent to join the core team at the studio and help us make what we believe will be one of the most exciting games on the market.”

Platforms and a release window are unknown at this point, but the educated of us can probably assume that PS3, 360 and PC platforms will get a fair shake and that the title won’t see release for probably another eighteen months yet.

More as and when.